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Topic Summary

Posted by: bwtufts
« on: August 09, 2012, 12:25:42 PM »

I enjoyed your story and photos! I especially like the photo of your two "helpers"; they look about as useful as mine when it comes to working on the Jeep.

Funny how things start with just getting it running and then end up a full up restoration. Enjoy!
Posted by: athawk11
« on: August 09, 2012, 11:38:14 AM »

Great Story, Mark.  It's Carma, man!  Once you commit to a Willys, the sun shines brighter.  The food tastes better.  The relationships become more meaningful.  All the puzzle pieces fit.

Your photo diary brings back good memories of my build.  I wish I had all that space to work in.  Would have been nice to have my Dad with me, too.

Tim
Posted by: calvinhunt
« on: August 09, 2012, 01:53:25 AM »

Mark,
 ï¿½Thanks for telling your interesting story. �Makes me think of how many years ago when I joined the Air Force wanting to be an airplane mechanic, I was told that if I didn't do well on my aviation maintenance qualification tests they would just make me be a Jeep mechanic. �I knew I surely didn't want that. �
  Now, after a lifetime of making a living as an airplane mechanic I'm so pleased to have finally become a Jeep Mechanic. �
 ï¿½
Posted by: Ryan_M
« on: August 08, 2012, 03:41:01 PM »

Great story, Mark. I enjoyed the pics as well. I too have always been of the "bigger and faster is better" mindset. I suppose I still am to a point.

I remember in high school my buddy had a 4cyl CJ-7. We loved the Jeep but I swore I'd never own a 4-cyl "toy" as it was dreadfully under powered. Fast forward 20 years, several big CJ-7's, and a couple V-8 hot rods later and now I'm pouring more time, money, and energy in to my little 3A than any of my other vehicles. Having more fun too. Go figure. Lots of good times wrenching old decrepit metal back into something fun and useable, even if you aren't going to crush and cars or break any land-speed records. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Chasm
« on: August 08, 2012, 02:43:25 PM »

Congrats on your journey Mark!  :)
Posted by: macrisel
« on: August 08, 2012, 12:25:16 PM »

Well, after doing some research and organizing some parts, I realized I might actually have something.  Almost all the parts and pieces to the engine and drivetrain were in those buckets!  I even found this neat little website called the "CJ3A page" that had a fountain of knowledge about this little oddity in my garage.  I had all the parts, why not try and rebuild the engine and see if I could get it to run?  I could always pull it out and put my big V-8 in later.....  So I rebuilt the engine and even painted it and made it look slick.  So slick, that when I put it back in the jeep it really made the rest of it look like cr*p!

One thing led to another and I ended up stripping the frame, painting it and starting a frame off restoration.  I have personally turned every bolt on this jeep (some more than once).  Will it be perfect?  Probably not.  After all, I grew up on V-8s, 4-barrels and fuel injection, 12 volt systems and power steering. (What do you mean the valves are in the block? ::) )  But what an amazing journey it has been.  Fast forward five years.  The little jeep is finally getting ready for paint.  My father is still with us, healthy as a horse and has been with me through the entire project.  My business is doing great.  I am married to an amazing women (who I met a week after I brought the 3A home) with a beautiful step-daugher.  We are expecting another child in a few weeks on August 31st.  I could not be more blessed.  And yes, my pride is definately boosted back up.

All from a little jeep..... ;)
Here is a link to photos of the progress:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.62872370588.98281.659115588&type=3&l=93beae7176
Posted by: macrisel
« on: August 08, 2012, 12:02:32 PM »

So here is my 3A story and how I ended up doing a stock Jeep..

2007 had been a pretty rough year for me personally. �During the year, my Grandma had passed away, my father had a heart attack, I left a very stable engineering job to change careers and start my own business, and to top things off, my wife and I got divorced. �I was at a pretty low point in my life.

After laying low for 8 months or so, I decided I needed a new project to occupy my time and prove to myself that I was still capable of something more than taking up space. �In years past, I had been a gearhead and been into hot rods, loud stereos and fast mororcycles (and unfortunately fast women). �I had always liked Jeeps, but had never had one myself. �I decided I would find an older CJ7, stuff a V-8 into it, lift it up and have a toy. �When I told my dad my plans to find an old jeep, his eyes lit up. �Turns out, my mother had been getting back in touch with some of her extended family she hadn't seen in many years. �One of them, had "an old jeep that looked like the ones in M.A.S.H" that he had intended to restore but never really got started. �For the low, low price of $500 I could drive to Arkansas, load it up and get it out of his way! �It was indeed meant to be. �In March of 2008, Dad and I made the trip....

Upon getting there and seeing the jeep, I was a little disappointed. �It was rough. �Parts were everywhere and the block (a 4 cyl?!?!) was in the back with everything else in 5 gallon buckets. �No big deal, I was going to toss the engine anyway...right? �We loaded everything up and headed back to Missouri. �Upon getting home, I power washed all the crud I could off of it and started to dump the buckets of parts out and organize them. �I also started to do some research on what exactly a "CJ3a" really was. �Until now, my only exposure to Jeeps had been Magnum PI and the Dukes of Hazzard. �I didn't even know what a :-? flat fender was....